Thursday, December 31, 2009
Cuisine Ala Kids Blog: The Beginning
Cuisine Ala Kids is a childrens cookbook that teaches kids the fundamentals of cooking & baking while supervised by an adult helper. My name is Janet Christon & I wrote Cuisine Ala Kids. It started as a labor of love but has turned into so much more. I am extremely proud of the attention it has generated and the wonderful reviews it's received. Although Cuisine Ala Kids has encouraged children & their adult helpers to use teamwork in the kitchen, it is time to take things to the next level! We all know how brutally honest children are. They are also quite finicky when it comes to mealtime. Not so when we take them out to eat. There is something about dining in a restaurant that appeals to our children. When presented with choices, they respond. So finding a kid-friendly restaurant with a kid-friendly menu is a must! Parents, of course , want healthy while kids want tasty! Though McDonald's, Burger King & Wendy's are your basic favorites, there has to be more. And so it begins! The search is on! I plan on researching the tri-state area ( I live in Stamford, Ct.) for restaurants to take my four grandchildren to & let them critique the food. After all, are there better critics than kids? Yes, my Athena, Zena, Vasiliki & Niko ( geez, can you tell we're greek?) have their work cut out for them. How hard can this be? (famous last words). We'll keep you posted!! By the way, Chuckie Cheese in Long Island & Connecticut makes a great pizza. All my little ones love it & they get tokens for the games with the deal. Just thought that was worth mentioning for all of you in these areas. Wish us luck!!!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Bickford Family Resturant Review
Our Rating: 3 stars
Kid Tester: Wynne, 10 years old
Location: Brattleboro, VT
Meals: Turkey Club Sandwich Special
A group of us were returning from skiing in Vermont yesterday, when our friend's daughter, Wynne, told us she was hungry. We immediately got off the exit in Brattleboro & found a kid-friendly restaurant. Bickford's Family Restaurant, believe it or not, did not have a seperate menu for children like the other restaurants we reviewed. I think it's because the entire menu was kid friendly. There really wasn't anything on there that most kids wouldn't like, which I thought was super. Wynne ordered the turkey club special which was par for the course, but the french fries were exceptionally crisp. I could hear the crunching across the table! The prices were good, the service was slow; but all in all, it was a good experience. *** Three Stars!
Kid Tester: Wynne, 10 years old
Location: Brattleboro, VT
Meals: Turkey Club Sandwich Special
A group of us were returning from skiing in Vermont yesterday, when our friend's daughter, Wynne, told us she was hungry. We immediately got off the exit in Brattleboro & found a kid-friendly restaurant. Bickford's Family Restaurant, believe it or not, did not have a seperate menu for children like the other restaurants we reviewed. I think it's because the entire menu was kid friendly. There really wasn't anything on there that most kids wouldn't like, which I thought was super. Wynne ordered the turkey club special which was par for the course, but the french fries were exceptionally crisp. I could hear the crunching across the table! The prices were good, the service was slow; but all in all, it was a good experience. *** Three Stars!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Aegea Restaurant
Our rating: 5 stars
Kid Tester: Vasiliki, 7 years old
Location: Douglaston, NY
Meal: Pizza
My seven-year old granddaughter, Kiki, enjoys visiting "her very favorite eating place in the whole wide world" ( her words ) when she has what she says is the best pizza ever at her cousin Michael's "Aegea" restaurant located on Northern Blvd. in Douglaston, NY. She may love the pizza ( he makes a very thin crust & a really tasty sauce ), but she has many favorites there, including grilled shrimp, chicken souvlaki & a house salad that Kiki devourers. ( I think it's his dressing!) She loves the fact that Michael & his staff are so attentive & that they are never satisfied until she gives them that big smile of approval. Being a dad himself, Michael knows the importance of feeding our kids tasty, healthy, fun meals & he more than accomplishes this at his wonderful establishment. Total five stars ***** for Michael & his restaurant family!
Kid Tester: Vasiliki, 7 years old
Location: Douglaston, NY
Meal: Pizza
My seven-year old granddaughter, Kiki, enjoys visiting "her very favorite eating place in the whole wide world" ( her words ) when she has what she says is the best pizza ever at her cousin Michael's "Aegea" restaurant located on Northern Blvd. in Douglaston, NY. She may love the pizza ( he makes a very thin crust & a really tasty sauce ), but she has many favorites there, including grilled shrimp, chicken souvlaki & a house salad that Kiki devourers. ( I think it's his dressing!) She loves the fact that Michael & his staff are so attentive & that they are never satisfied until she gives them that big smile of approval. Being a dad himself, Michael knows the importance of feeding our kids tasty, healthy, fun meals & he more than accomplishes this at his wonderful establishment. Total five stars ***** for Michael & his restaurant family!
Benihana's Japanese Restuarant
Our rating: 5 Stars
Kid Tester: Zenovia, 8 years old
Location: Manhasset, NY
Meal: Chicken and Vegetable Hibachi
For our mutual nameday ( being Greek Orthodox, we celebrate the saints we are named after) my granddaughter Zena & I had our annual lunch at Benihana's japanese restaurant in Manhasset, NY. This is truly Zena's all-time favorite place to eat. The food is not only delicious, but being prepared on a grill in front of you by a talented chef is a definite highlight for children & adults. Your personal chef makes the experience fun & entertaining. The choices are simple & healthy,not to mention tasty. Zena had the terriyaki chicken & even ate all her vegetables.The ambiance is authentic & the fact that the tables are designed to seat up to eight people makes it a social event.We sat with parents who had children the same age as Zena. She loved the fact that she & the other kids shared menu ideas & opinions. You would never think that an eight year old would be sophisticated enough to enjoy japanese cuisine, but Zena is beyond mature when it comes to her taste buds. She is never afraid to try new foods & as her Yiayia, (greek for grandmother) I love that! And kids feel more mature when in a different atmosphere, trying new things. The food is a little pricey, but well worth it for quality, quantity & a show! Total Thumbs Up!!!!
Kid Tester: Zenovia, 8 years old
Location: Manhasset, NY
Meal: Chicken and Vegetable Hibachi
For our mutual nameday ( being Greek Orthodox, we celebrate the saints we are named after) my granddaughter Zena & I had our annual lunch at Benihana's japanese restaurant in Manhasset, NY. This is truly Zena's all-time favorite place to eat. The food is not only delicious, but being prepared on a grill in front of you by a talented chef is a definite highlight for children & adults. Your personal chef makes the experience fun & entertaining. The choices are simple & healthy,not to mention tasty. Zena had the terriyaki chicken & even ate all her vegetables.The ambiance is authentic & the fact that the tables are designed to seat up to eight people makes it a social event.We sat with parents who had children the same age as Zena. She loved the fact that she & the other kids shared menu ideas & opinions. You would never think that an eight year old would be sophisticated enough to enjoy japanese cuisine, but Zena is beyond mature when it comes to her taste buds. She is never afraid to try new foods & as her Yiayia, (greek for grandmother) I love that! And kids feel more mature when in a different atmosphere, trying new things. The food is a little pricey, but well worth it for quality, quantity & a show! Total Thumbs Up!!!!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
City Limits Diner
Our rating: 5 stars
Kid tester: Athena, 9 years old
Location: Stamford, CT
Meal: Hamburger, Root Beer Float
Last Sunday my granddaughter Athena & I went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. City Limits Diner in Stamford Ct.(two other locations in White Plains,NY)is not really a diner. The restaurant is very retro in decor and I love the ambiance. Most diner's childrens menus are smaller portions of the adult meals. City Limits has some of that & more. I loved the fact that they put a 6 ounce strip steak w/french fries & broccoli on the menu along with fried chicken, homemade cheese ravioli & even silver dollar pancakes (how many kids would love that!)Even fish & chips (I loved that). Twelve items in all & all appealing to the kids. Athena's eyes opened wide with all the choices. When we ordered our food, the waiter brought us a lovely bread basket which included corn bread. She devoured it. What you need to know about City Limits is that many of their items are made in-house. All their pastries & ice cream are made there. Their hamburgers are specially ground in-house as well. The food is exceptional & Athena loved the grown-up feeling of being there. The food is pricey but well worth it for a weekend dinner,lunch or special occasions. After her delicious meal (she had one of their spectacular hamburgers w/hand-cut french fries & pink lemonade) she ordered a rootbeer float for dessert that was outstanding! Their dessert menu, by the way, is beyond compare & all homemade. I love City Limits Diner & now so does Athena!! Highly recommended!
Kid tester: Athena, 9 years old
Location: Stamford, CT
Meal: Hamburger, Root Beer Float
Last Sunday my granddaughter Athena & I went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. City Limits Diner in Stamford Ct.(two other locations in White Plains,NY)is not really a diner. The restaurant is very retro in decor and I love the ambiance. Most diner's childrens menus are smaller portions of the adult meals. City Limits has some of that & more. I loved the fact that they put a 6 ounce strip steak w/french fries & broccoli on the menu along with fried chicken, homemade cheese ravioli & even silver dollar pancakes (how many kids would love that!)Even fish & chips (I loved that). Twelve items in all & all appealing to the kids. Athena's eyes opened wide with all the choices. When we ordered our food, the waiter brought us a lovely bread basket which included corn bread. She devoured it. What you need to know about City Limits is that many of their items are made in-house. All their pastries & ice cream are made there. Their hamburgers are specially ground in-house as well. The food is exceptional & Athena loved the grown-up feeling of being there. The food is pricey but well worth it for a weekend dinner,lunch or special occasions. After her delicious meal (she had one of their spectacular hamburgers w/hand-cut french fries & pink lemonade) she ordered a rootbeer float for dessert that was outstanding! Their dessert menu, by the way, is beyond compare & all homemade. I love City Limits Diner & now so does Athena!! Highly recommended!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friendly's Restaurant
Rating: 4 stars
Kid Tester: Nikolas, 3 years old
Location: Milford, CT
Meal: Chicken fingers and french fries, hot fudge sundae.
Today we took 3 year old Niko to Friendly's for lunch. Now I know that everyone on the planet knows that Friendly's is a kid friendly restaurant but the value is unsurpassed. With his meal, he recieved a drink & an ice cream sundae. Adults benefit from a friendly's meal along with their child because the menu is extensive, the food is good & the price is reasonable. Hey, I know this isn't exactly what I had in mind when I started this venture, but he's 3 for pete's sake & he had fun! Well, the search goes on. The granddaughters are next!!
Kid Tester: Nikolas, 3 years old
Location: Milford, CT
Meal: Chicken fingers and french fries, hot fudge sundae.
Today we took 3 year old Niko to Friendly's for lunch. Now I know that everyone on the planet knows that Friendly's is a kid friendly restaurant but the value is unsurpassed. With his meal, he recieved a drink & an ice cream sundae. Adults benefit from a friendly's meal along with their child because the menu is extensive, the food is good & the price is reasonable. Hey, I know this isn't exactly what I had in mind when I started this venture, but he's 3 for pete's sake & he had fun! Well, the search goes on. The granddaughters are next!!
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